According to health experts, there are foods that pregnant woman should avoid because of the chances that they could harm the unborn baby. Consider these 5 foods to avoid during pregnancy, and reasons why health experts suggest abstaining from them:

1. Raw meat. If you love your steak rare, pregnancy is not the time to eat it that way. Raw meats can carry bacteria such as salmonella and toxoplasmosis that can be harmful to you and your unborn baby. Take care to make sure that any seafood and poultry you eat is cooked well done to ensure any bacteria is cooked away.

2.  Deli meats.  Deli meats have long been linked with listeria. Listeria passes through the placenta to the baby and is linked to miscarriage.

3.  Fish and mercury. There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the advice to avoid fish during pregnancy. The reason it is important to avoid certain types of fish is because of high mercury levels. In particular, fish to avoid include shark, swordfish, tilefish and mackerel. Fish, however, are a great source of healthful fatty acids. So, adding certain fish in moderation to your diet is recommended.

4.  Raw eggs. Any food product that contains raw eggs, or eggs that are undercooked, should be approached with caution. Health authorities in the UK have changed guidelines so that certain eggs are safe for pregnant moms, but this recommendation isn’t yet global. Use caution with products that contain raw eggs in the ingredient list, such as ice cream and salad dressings. Additionally, avoid ALL dairy products that are unpasteurized.

5. Unpasteurized soft cheeses.  Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Feta, Gorgonzola and Mexican style cheeses that include Queso Blanco and Queso fresco, unless they clearly state that they are made from pasteurized milk. All soft non-imported cheeses made with pasteurized milk are safe to eat.

During pregnancy, it is very important to make sure that you keep cooking surfaces and areas clean to avoid cross contamination. If you can wear gloves while handling raw meats and raw foods, plan to do so. The bacteria associated with foods can be very harmful to your baby and has been linked to miscarriage.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Every since the introduction of the Baby Mozart videos and studies done over a decade ago about the Mozart Effect, there have been varying degrees of information that indicate playing music for your unborn baby will help them become smarter, and can even lead to an easier birth for mom. But is this information true?

More recent research doesn’t back up any of the claims that playing music for your baby while in utero will result in higher IQ, or that it will help intelligence develop at a greater speed. But there are evidence and testimonials from pregnant women that support the claims it helps to relax or stimulate the baby. Remember, your baby can hear the sounds going on around you, and will even startle at very loud sounds. Many pregnant moms say that playing relaxing music has helped to lull an overly active baby in utero, while stimulating music has the effect of making them move. Maybe, your baby is dancing inside your tummy.

Scientists suggest that the way the music makes YOU feel is likely what is causing the changes in your baby in utero. If music relaxes you, then naturally your baby will sense your relaxed state and will relax as well.  The opposite is also true.

One interesting fact about playing music to your baby while you are pregnant, is that research does seem to indicate that after delivery your baby will remember the music. Many women play certain songs to their baby while they are pregnant, and find that after delivery that same music has the uncanny ability to calm a fussy or colicky baby. And since science tells us that babies recognize the voices of their mothers right after delivery, it only makes sense that they will also remember the sound of your favorite Stevie Nicks song that you played on repeat during pregnancy.

At the end of the day, you have to do what you feel is good for your baby. Many women are very attached and gain quite a bit of comfort and relaxation from music. Therefore, it seems obvious that their children will as well. There is certainly no harm in playing Mozart, in playing the piano, or in exposing your unborn baby to your favorite songs and melodies. However, caution should be taken before hooking up headphones to either side of your belly and blaring music to your uterus. If you do this, make sure the music is turned down very low. Keep in mind that the baby can hear through your belly, although the sounds will be muffled – and that you can expose them to songs and music without hooking your baby bump up to headphones.

So what do you say?  Do you play music to your unborn baby?  Do you think it relaxes or stimulates your baby? We’d love to hear your experience.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Many women wonder whether hair color and perms during pregnancy are safe. Depending on where you look and whom you ask, you are likely to get a multitude of answers. Some folks say hair color is safe as long as it doesn’t touch the scalp, while others believe that any type of hair color or hair treatment is unsafe.

So what should you do? Should you scale down your beauty routine and give birth to your first baby with unkempt hair, or will it be okay to color or perm your hair during pregnancy and keep your routine intact?

To date, there has been no accurate research that directly links hair color or chemicals used in permanents to fetal damage during pregnancy. That being said, the chemicals used in hair color and perms have been shown to cause cancer and genetic disorders in animal studies when used in high doses (50 times the amounts used in salon treatments). It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize that using any and all unnecessary chemicals during pregnancy – especially on the scalp which absorbs the chemicals into the blood stream – should be avoided when possible. That being said, highlighting your hair or getting a perm has never been proven to cause any damage. In fact, thousands upon thousands of women keep up their hair during pregnancy.

Some women feel strongly that their self-esteem is worth the temporary exposure to chemicals. Even more interesting is that health professionals believe pregnant women are exposed to more harmful chemicals from pollution on a day to day basis than they are with a quick hair color touch-up or permanent.

Perhaps the real question is: how will your hair react? It is an undisputed fact that, thanks to hormones, your hair, skin and nails change drastically during pregnancy. You may get a perm only to realize that your hair is not reacting the same as it had in the past. Or your hair may not take color as well as it did before. So perhaps more than worrying about the chemicals, you might be worried about the way you will look after your hair treatments. There are many women who have been getting perms or hair color all their life, only to find out the hard way that their pregnancy hair didn’t tolerate the procedures. (That explains the poodle hair I had during delivery!)

One option of course, is to shop for organic, semi-permanent hair colors and treatments. These options are obviously not as long lasting, but they may be a temporary fix to keeping up your hair while you are pregnant. If you have concerns, you can also check with your physician and gain his or her insight to help you make the decision about whether to perm or color your hair or not.

Did you have any hair catastrophes during pregnancy? Did you use hair dyes or perm your hair?

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Your body aches. You can barely see your feet, but you are pretty sure they are swollen. Every time you sit down, you feel like you might pee on yourself. Your back is sore and your hips are cracking and popping every time you move. Not to mention, you are anxious about your upcoming birth, tired because it has been hard to sleep at night, and slightly stressed due to the rapid ebb and flow of hormones.

What can you do to make yourself feel better?  How about a pregnancy massage?

The reality is that as your belly grows, the muscles in your body have to work harder to keep you upright. This (as well as other things during pregnancy) can lead to all sorts of aches and pains. One of the best solutions is to have a pregnancy massage by a certified therapist who is licensed and experienced in the art of pregnancy massage. (This also makes a GREAT shower gift if you know someone who is pregnant.)

Massage therapists who specialize in the art of pregnancy massage have massage tables that accommodate your growing belly so that you can lie down on your tummy comfortably. Additionally, many massage therapists will use a combination of massage methods to help ease the stress and tension in your body. Did you know that there are active pressure points along your spine that, when massaged, can actually help you balance hormones?  And, having a pregnancy massage is also good for your baby. Remember, the more relaxed YOU are and the better YOU feel, the better your developing baby feels, as well.

Some techniques given during a prenatal massage can also help with specific troubles you may be having during pregnancy such as headaches, or nausea.

The key is finding a massage therapist who is experienced in prenatal massage. Some may even have specific licensing and specialized training in the art of prenatal massage. Chances are you can find the name and number of a prenatal massage therapist by talking to your doctor. In other words, make sure that you don’t go to just any massage therapist when you are pregnant.

It may feel indulgent. The truth is that you DESERVE to be pampered during pregnancy. Don’t have that much to spend? Another idea to take care of those sore and aching feet is to have a pedicure complete with a good foot massage. Rather than feel guilty about a pregnancy massage, realize that you are doing it for you AND your baby! The happier and healthier you are during pregnancy, the happier and healthier your baby will be as well.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.